Viral Rumor Falsely Claims Donald Trump Changed Tax Law To Benefit

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Oct 21, 2025, 9:21 AM

viral rumor falsely claims donald trump changed tax law to benefit

Even before President Donald Trump took office again Jan. 20, some social media users blamed him for a new law that would affect some families. "Trump passed a new law that whoever is paying the child support will get to declare those children on their taxes," a TikTok user said in a Jan. 18 video. "Say you’re a single father, single mother, and you are not the one paying the child support, you will not get the tax return for the child." Social media users also shared the post on Instagram and Facebook, and said Trump tweeted about the new policy.

The Instagram post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads.) Despite the rumors, Trump did not enact a new law about child support and taxes. Social media has been abuzz with claims from influencers that Donald Trump has changed the tax code, preventing child support recipients from claiming dependents and the benefits that accompany them. A TikToker attracted 16 million views with his video asserting, “Trump passed a new law that whoever is paying the child support would get to declare those children on their taxes. So, say you’re a single father, single mother, and you are not the one paying the child support, you will not get the tax return for your child.”

Another TikTok video, posted on Jan. 16 and watched over 12 million times, claims, “Oh my God, Trump just tweeted if you put your baby daddy on child support that the baby daddy now gets all of the income tax.” One problem: Trump never made such an announcement on social media or anywhere else. And even if he did, the president couldn’t make such a change by himself. An executive order would be null and void. A false rumor spread on TikTok claimed that Donald Trump signed a law preventing child support recipients from claiming their children on tax returns.

The claim, which sparked widespread debate, has been proven entirely false. TikToker William Elston, who has 300,000 followers, falsely alleged Trump tweeted about the law, saying tax refunds would go to the parent paying child support. His video quickly went viral, leading to mixed reactions online. However, fact-checkers, including Snopes, confirmed no such law exists. Elston later admitted he fabricated the claim, but the misinformation had already spread. This hoax serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying information before sharing it online.

Get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox each morning. Sign up for our Morning Edition to start your day. FL1 on the Go! Download the free FingerLakes1.com App for iOS (iPhone, iPad). FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades.

Have a lead? Send it to [email protected]. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab U.S. President Donald Trump posted on TruthSocial that a parent who receives child support can no longer claim the child on their taxes. We found no evidence of such a post on TruthSocial or X.

Trump has said he would expand the child tax credit during his second term in office. In January 2025, a rumor on X, Instagram and YouTube claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media that parents who receive money in child support are no longer able to claim the children as dependents on their taxes. Numerous Snopes readers asked us about the purported new "Trump child support law." Some versions of the rumor said the alleged rule was specific to women who receive child support, while others stated it... Trump just tweeted if you put your baby father on child support, you can't claim income taxes — only he can. [...] When you put your baby father on child support, you no longer can claim your child — only the father can [...] only one of y'all can claim your child.

If he's paying child support, you can't claim the kids — only he can. A viral rumor that began circulating on social media a few weeks before Donald Trump took office in 2025 claimed that he had signed a law preventing parents who receive child support from claiming... The misinformation gained momentum during the week of his inauguration, with many parents worried about how this supposed change would affect their tax filings. The truth? No such law was ever signed. Despite the widespread posts, there has never been a law—under Trump or any other president—banning child support recipients from claiming their children as dependents.

At Garcia-Windsor, P.C., we understand how misinformation can create unnecessary stress for parents. That’s why we’re breaking down the facts about tax claims, child support, and what the law actually says. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) determines who can claim a child as a dependent, and the general rule is: The parent with primary custody has the right to claim the child, unless a court order states otherwise. On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" into law, eliminating federal taxes on Social Security benefits, tips, and overtime pay while increasing standard deductions to $15,000 for single... "For individuals, double-check your tax withholdings—the increased standard deduction and exemptions mean many taxpayers could have too much withheld from their paychecks," says David Kindness, CPA and Founder of Your Creative CPA.

This comprehensive guide examines how the new tax law affects your finances and provides actionable strategies to optimize your tax situation. For personalized guidance navigating these changes, our best tax relief services can help you maximize benefits under the enacted policies. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025, makes sweeping changes to the federal tax code. According to the Tax Foundation, the law will increase long-run GDP by 1.2 percent and reduce federal tax revenue by $5.0 trillion from 2025-2034 on a conventional basis, with dynamic effects reducing the revenue... The law permanently extends the current tax bracket structure, keeping the top rate at 37% instead of reverting to 39.6%. The IRS has announced the following tax brackets for 2025:

Viral Rumor Falsely Claims Donald Trump Changed Tax Law To Benefit

People Also Search

Even Before President Donald Trump Took Office Again Jan. 20,

The Instagram Post Was Flagged As Part Of Meta’s Efforts

Another TikTok Video, Posted On Jan. 16 And Watched Over

The Claim, Which Sparked Widespread Debate, Has Been Proven Entirely

Get The Latest Headlines Delivered To Your Inbox Each Morning.